Portable laminator



Jan. 18, 1944. Q L Ewls 2,339,492

PORTABLE LAMINATOR Filed May 12, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Jan 18 1944- G. l.. LEwls n 2,339,492

' PORTABLE LAMINATOR IN VENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE LAMINATOR Gilbert L. Lewis, Kansas City, Mo. Application May 12, 1941, Serial No. 393,145

(Cl. 21S-19) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in portable laminatorsespecially adapted for laminating paper and similar materials with a cellulose acetate lm or with other similar materials for the protection of the paper against deterioration and consequently providing longer life thereto and rendering the same water and grease proof.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an eilcient durable and portable device of the above stated character whereby lamination may be successfully and accurately carried out and especially on small jobs at a minimum cost, thereby providing economical means for the purpose specified and relieving the printer of the necessity of sending such work to establishments equipped with expensive and large machines for lamination, thus greatly reducing the small printers overhead cost for such work.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a laminator provided with a'lamnating roller having resilient means whereby said roller is constantly urged against the work throughout the entire length of its stop.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease and accuracy of operation, and adaptability lfor use with the various laminating materials.

With these and other objects in view, as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter will be set forth. For a complete understanding of my invention reference will now be had to the following descriptions and accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portable laminator partly broken away, embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 isa foreshortened, enlarged side elevational view of a portable laminator.

Figure 4 is an enlarged central sectional view of the roller assembly taken on line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view wherein the roller is ating handle.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional on line VI-VI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit employed in the preferred and modified forms.

Throughout the of a modified `form provided with a single operview taken several views like reference characters designate similar parts and the nubed made of a suitable mameral I0 designates a terial whereby it retains its planar operating shape. This bed is provided with guide flanges I2 disposed in parallel relation along its opposite edge portions. These flanges are secured by means of screws I4 to the base member i6. This base member I6 is preferably made of laminated wood to present alight structure.

The inner, lower portion of each of the guide flanges l2 'are longitudinally grooved at I8 to receive a cushion member 20 on top of which is positioned a'planar presser plate 22. The cushion member 20 and presser plate 22 may be inserted lengthwise of the bed when it is desired to replace these members. 'Ihe upper face of each of the guides I2, is grooved, at 24 and the upper portion of each of the flanges is provided with an out-turned flange 26. These flanges not only serve as guides as hereinafter set forth, but also serve as reinforcements to prevent distortion of the planar operating surfaces.

The cushion member' 20 can be made of any suitable resilient material such as fiber board, etc., and the presser plate is made of a relatively thin. smooth material which will present a suitable surface for the laminating operation.

A roller 28 is adapted to be moved lengthwise of said bed to exert a pressure on the transparent sheet of coating material 3U so as to press it tightly against the sheet 32 being laminated.

Roller 28 comprises a cylindrical drum 34 having end sleeves 36 by means of which drum 34 is concentrically mounted for rotation on the hollow axle 38. The end sleeves 36 are each provided with an annular flange 40 which are spaced apart from the respective ends of the drum and operatively engage groove 24 tomaintain the roller in proper operative relation relative to the bed. The opposite ends of axle 38 are leach provided with a hand grip 42 which is tightly fitted thereto and secured against displacement by means of nuts 44. f

The inner end of each of the hand grips 42 is provided with oppositely disposed lugs 46 which are drilled and .threaded at 48 to receive screws 50 by means of which spring member 52 is adjustably secured against the center portion 54 of hand grip 42. each of its opposite ends a roller 56 which is adapted to resiliently engage the lower side of flange 26 thus exerting a downward pull on the roller 28. The amount of pressure exerted on said roller will depend somewhat on the initial shape of spring 52 and can be varied by adjusting the screws 50.

With the rollers spaced at each side of the This spring member 52 carries at annular heating coil 68 pass through formed through the wall of the roller.

lproperly laminated onto the paper.

center line of the roller 23, itis quite apparent that the rollers l56 will serve' as stabilizing means for the roller 28l during the laminating process. flanges Ml are so iitted into grooves 24 that vthey are the only portion of the roller assembly that can contact any of the stationary bed parts except the rollers 56. This insures la free and unobstructed movement of the'roller which facilitates the proper/positioning of `the v laminating sheet. A

Mounted within the drum 34 on axle 38 is a collar 39 of electric insulating material on which is mounted a bi-metallic thermoswitch 58 which is normally closed andit will open when the temperature within said drum exceeds a predetermined temperature. Also within drum 34 is mounted an electric heating coil 68 which is inby means of'an insulatsulated from the axle 38 ing sleeve 82.

Lead wires B3 for supplying current to the an opening 64 of axle 38 and extends outwardly through the axle and is provided with a switch 66. Since only the drum 34 and its associated end sleeves 36 rotate and the other members carried by the axle 38 do not rotate the wiring 63 to the heating coil 60 can be made direct without any fear of them becoming twisted or dislodged. M

Adjustable stop members 3B extending into groove 24 and secured against relative movement by means of vset screw EB are adapted to be positioned at any desired place along groove 24 to limit the forward movement of the roller 28 on certain laminating jobs these stops will be properly adjusted to preclude unnecessary movement Referring to Figure 3 it will be noted that the stop 68 is in roller 58.

In the operation of this device the sheet 32 to be laminated is placed on the path of travel of the presser plate 22 and then the sheet of cellulose acetate film is properly positioned thereon -and the roller which has been heated to theproper pre-determined degree is moved over these to press them together and to heat them so that there will be a denite adhesion set upl between said sheets. In some switch 53. This switch 58 is normally closed as shown and as the temperature approaches a predetermined degree the switch will open thus cutting oii. the current to the heating coil 60. This circuit is applicable to both forms of the laminating roller.

Referring now to the modified form shown in Figures 5 and 6, it will be noted that the axle 84 carries theroller drum 34 mounted on sleeves 36 for axial rotation thereon. The guiding means, including grooves 24 and annular discs 40, are identical with that shown in Figure 2. In this form the spring 52 carrying the rollers 56 is mounted on a collar 'rotatably mounted on axle 84. A U-shaped yoke 88 is provided at its opposite extremities with apertures 88 to receive the respective outer extremities of axle 84 to which it is rigidly attached by means of pins 90. The U-shaped yoke 88 is provided with a centrally disposed handle 92 by means of which the roller is manually propelled along guide rails I2. The cord 63 extends into hollow axle 84 thence through an opening 94 formed therethrough for connection with the switch 53 and heating coil 60.

It will be noted that in this modiiied form and also in the preferred form that end plates 9B are provided at the opposite ends of each of the guide flanges which may serve as stops to limit the travel of the roller in both directions. f. When it is desired to position the roller on the bed member al1 that is necessary is to remove the plates 86 at one end of the guide anges, position the roller and then replace the end plates. When it is desired to operate the roller by hand pressure alone the springs 52 While I have shown and described the prefer.- V

red embodiment of 'my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts, maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope stretched over the top surface of the presser plate, l

the sheet of paper to be laminated is then placed upon this cloth and a sheet of thermoplastic cellulose acetate is properly positioned on the paper and then a thin sheet of protective cloth is placed over the film sheet, the heat roller is then mdved over said sheets to produce the proper pressure and heat so that the film will be Y Instead of using the cloth protective sheets it is quite apparent that the roller 28 may be' covered with a suitable coating of plastic of a high melting de-y gree ora layer of cloth may be smoothly positioned thereabout.

A typical diagrammatic view of an electrical circuit which is ior the controlling ofthe heating coil 68 is clearly shown in Figure 7. The

power line wire ill is connected by wire 'I2 to one coil 68 while the other end one member 1B The other end of the heating thereof is joined by wire 14 to of the bi-metallic thermoswitch 58.

y line wire 18 is connected by wire 88 throughcontrol switch y(i6 with the bi-metallic arm 82 ofof the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my claim is:

1. In a portable laminator a bed 'plate having a pair of longitudinally grooved guide flanges disposed in parallel including a rigidly secured to said axle outside said end sleeves whereby the rollerl is moved lengthwise over said bed plate, resilient means to urge said roller against the work, annular ilanges carried by said end sleeves to engagel the respective guide flanges whereby the roller is maintained in proper operative relation with the bed plate during the laminating operation, and means carried by said axle insld'ethe drum for heating said cylindrical drum.

. 2. In a portable laminator a bed plate having a pair of longitudinally grooved guide flanges disposed in parallel relation along opposite edges thereof, a presser plate resiliently mounted on may be removed byv simply removing the screws 50. y

inventata, what vr relation along opposite edges thereof, a resilient bed plate for supporting the o lwork, a. hand roller having a cylindrical drurn provided with end, sleeves rotatably engaging said axle, a hand grip hollow axle K formed therein, a hand said bed plate, a hand roller including a hollow axle having a cylindrical drum provided with end sleeves rotatably engaging said axle, a hand grip secured against rotation to said axle outside said end sleeves whereby the roller is moved lengthwise over said presser plate, annular anges carried by said end sleeves to engage the respective guide flanges whereby the roller is maintained in proper operative relation with the bed plate during the laminating operation, adjustable spring means whereby said roller is maintained against said work at a predetermined pressure, and means for heating said cylindrical drum.

3. In a portable laminator a substantially planar bed plate for supporting work to be laminated, a pair of guide anges disposed in parallel relation along opposite side edges of said bed plate having longitudinal grooves roller including a hollow axle having a cylindrical drum provided with end sleeves adapted for rotation on said axle, a hand grip disposed at each end of said axle, resilient means whereby said roller is urged against said work as it is moved thereover, and an annular flange adjacent each of the opposite ends of said roller adapted to vinlove in said longitudinal grooves respectively whereby the roller is maintained in proper relation to the work.

4. In a portable laminator a substantially planar bed plate having longitudinally grooved, up-turned flanges along its opposite side edges. a resiliently mounted presser plate carried by .':aid bed plate to support the work, a roller comprising a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation on a hollow axle, annular flanges carried by said drum to engage said grooved flanges to properly guide said roller` during the laminating operations, a hand engaging end portion of said axle positioned beyond each end respectively of said roller, a resilient means carried by each of said hand grips to co-operate with said base plate anges to exert a downward pressure ot the during the laminating operaand means for heating said cylindrical roller on the work tion, drum.

5. In a portable laminator a substantially planar bed plate having longitudinally grooved, up-turned flanges along its opposite side edges. a resiliently mounted presser plate carried by said bed plate to support the work, a roller comprising a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation on a hollow axle which extends entirely therethrough, annular flanges carried by said drum to engage said grooved anges to properly guide said roller during the laminating operations, a hand engaging end portion oi' said axle positioned beyond each end respectively of said roller, a resilient means carried by each of said hand grips to co-operate with said base plate flanges to exert a downward pressure of the roller on the work during the laminating operation, manually adjustable means to vary the downward urge of said resilient means, and means for heating said cylindrical drum.

6. In a portable laminator a substantially planar bed plate having longitudinally grooved, 11p-turned flanges along its opposite side edges. a resiliently mounted presser plate carried by ksaid bed plate to support the work, a roller comprising a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation on a hollow axle, annular ilanges carried by said drum to engage said grooved flanges to properly guide said roller during the laminating operations, a hand `engaging end portion of said axle positioned beyond each end respectively of said roller, a resilient means carried by each of said hand grips to co-operate with said base plate flanges to exert a downward pressure of thc roller on the work during the laminating operation, means for varying the effective downward urge of said resilient means, electric heating means positioned Within said cylindrical drums. and a temperature operated switch within said cylindrical drum operable when a pre-determined temperature has been obtained therein to break the circuit supplying the electric current to the heating means.

GILBERT L. LEWIS. 

